mind. He was seated on a pile of brush, a
few twigs from which occasionally fed his low fire, with his head
leaning on his arm, in a posture of melancholy musing. The costume of
the votary of music had undergone no other alteration from that so
lately described, except that he had covered his bald head with the
triangular beaver, which had not proved sufficiently alluring to excite
the cupidity of any of his captors.

The ingenious Hawkeye, who recalled the hasty manner in which the other
had abandoned his post at the bedside of the sick woman, was not without
his suspicions concerning the subject of so much solemn deliberation.
First making the circuit of the hut, and ascertaining that it stood
quite alone, and that the character of its inmate was likely to protect
it from visitors, he ventured through its low door, into the very
presence of Gamut. The position of the latter brought the fire between
them; and when Hawkeye had seated himself on end, near a minute elapsed,
during which the two remained regarding each other without speaking. The
suddenness and the nature of the surprise had nearly proved too much
for--we will not say the philosophy--but for the faith and resolution of
David. He fumbled for his pitch-pipe, and arose with a confused
intention of attempting a musical exorcism.

"Dark and mysterious monster!" he exclaimed, while with trembling hands
he disposed of his auxiliary eyes, and sought his never-failing resource
in trouble, the gifted version of the Psalms: "I know not your nature
nor intents; but if aught you meditate against the person and rights of
one of the humblest servants of the temple, listen to the inspired
language of the youth of Israel, and repent."

The bear shook his shaggy sides, and then a well-known voice replied,--

"Put up the tooting we'pon, and teach your throat modesty. Five words of
plain and comprehensible English are worth, just now, an hour of
squalling."

"What art thou!" demanded David, utterly disqualified to pursue his
original intention, and nearly gasping for breath.

"A man like yourself; and one whose blood is as little tainted by the
cross of a bear, or an Indian, as your own. Have you so soon forgotten
from whom you received the foolish instrument you hold in your hand?"

"Can these things be?" returned David, breathing more freely, as the
truth began to dawn upon him. "I have found many marvels during my
sojourn with the heathen, but surely nothing to exc